Renting property: Landlords can be bartered with over rent and length of lease. Photograph: Christopher Thomond

Your rent is likely to make up a huge proportion of your monthly expenditure, so getting the best deal is vital. The good news is that rent is often up for negotiation as landlords seek reliable, responsible tenants who will pay on time. If you are looking for a new place to live, follow these tips to see if you can get more room for less money.

Know what you want

Start by creating a wish list for the property you want: include location, number and size of rooms, parking and garden size. This will help you rule out unsuitable accommodation and make your search easier. Work out your budget using our budget planner.

Research prices and properties

Do some research on properties that meet your criteria and make a short list. Free-to-advertise websites such as Gumtree are a great way for money-savvy landlords to cut the cost of marketing their property, and provide you with a huge choice of rental homes.

Newsagents and papers also advertise properties to rent, and you will often see adverts saying something along the lines of "£300 p/w negotiable". In this case the landlord will expect you to discuss the price. If you choose to go through a lettings agent you can use websites such as FindaProperty.com, or visit agents in your desired area to see what properties are on their books.

Go direct

Private landlords who rent their property independently save a lot of money in marketing and management costs. The savings they make could prove advantageous to you when negotiating, as they may be able to be more flexible on price.

Although we are concentrating on dealing with private landlords, similar rules apply when negotiating with agents. Whichever route you choose, allow plenty of time before you need to move so you can research market prices and avoid being forced into an unfavourable deal.

It's a two-way interview

It is important not to give off too many positive signals when you are viewing. Remain keen but not committed – don't tell the landlord you have to move soon or you'll be homeless; this will flash pound signs in their eyes. Make sure they realise you are seeing a selection of properties.

Remember, this is about establishing a relationship of trust. The landlord wants to be sure you are the right person to live in his or her property – a "nightmare tenant" can be a costly mistake. If, for example, you come across as a sensible, tidy professional who is house proud and reliable, the landlord will see you as someone who will look after the property and pay rent on time.

Bring along good references from previous landlords. Reassuring a landlord of your positive qualities can help persuade them to lower the price and take you on, rather than receiving a full rent from a less desirable person.

But, of course, this is not all about what the landlord wants. It is a two-way interview and you want to make sure you have a good landlord who cares about the property and its tenants. Use a checklist when viewing the property. Ask questions. Find out, for example, if the place is well insulated. This will be important when it comes to keeping down your monthly heating bills. Find out who maintains the property. Are water rates included in the rent? When will the property be available? If the house is empty this could work in your favour – an empty property will be losing the landlord money so they will be keen to secure your business.

Closing the deal

Once you have found a house or flat that suits you but is a little too expensive, perhaps you could offer to sign a longer lease, if this suits you, in order to gain a better deal?

Before you sign on the dotted line check that you and the landlord agree over the inventory and the state of the property, and read your agreement carefully. For more details on tenancy agreements visit the Citizens Advice website.

Moving day

When you first move in you should view the property thoroughly, ideally with the landlord or agent, and check it is as described. List any problems in writing – from a damaged kitchen work surface to a missing key for the shed – as this will help avoid any unnecessary differences of opinion when it comes to reclaiming your deposit at the end of your tenancy.